Nfl Compounds Referees' Mistakes

INSIDE THE NFL

Conway was incensed that a flag was not thrown on a blatant pass interference by Washington Redskins cornerback Cris Dishman in

a game Nov. 2. Conway was docked $10,000 by both the Bears and the NFL after getting ejected.

''They should have something that they would have to pay or something should happen to them if they miss a call like that,'' Conway said.

It is rare for the NFL to publicly acknowledge an officiating mistake. Jerry Seeman, the NFL's director of officiating, won't say how many calls his officials have blown this season.

It's a lot. Guaranteed.

St. Louis Rams cornerback Ryan McNeil intercepted a pass thrown by Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre in a 17-7 loss to the Packers on Nov. 9, but the pass was ruled incomplete. ''How they couldn't call that an interception is an embarrassment to their profession,'' Rams coach Dick Vermeil said.

Vermeil was not alone in his criticism after a combined 24 penalties for 176 yards in that game. ''Refs have bad games like players,'' Packers center Frank Winters said.

Philadelphia Eagles coach Ray Rhodes accused officials of turning against his team after disputing a 12-men-on-the-field penalty in an Oct. 19 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Eagles special teams coach Joe Wessel had shown officials a picture that proved only 11 players were on the field.

Back judge Timmie Mills blew the call on the Indianapolis Colts' late 2-point conversion that would have tied a Sept. 21 game against the Buffalo Bills. Mills failed to flag safety Kurt Schulz for pass interference against Colts receiver Marvin Harrison. ''I think everyone in the world saw that one, but he (Mills) obviously didn't see anything,'' Colts quarterback Paul Justin said.

Back judge Tom Sifferman ruled New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet did not have possession of a fourth-and-5 pass late in the fourth quarter of the Jets' 24-17 loss at the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 9. It was clear that Chrebet was merely stretching for extra yardage.

Minnesota Vikings fullback Charles Evans was stopped 1 yard short on third-and-goal from the 1 against the Tampa Bay Bucs on Oct. 26. But line judge Mark Steinkerchner saw the ball somehow gravitate across the plane, helping Minnesota to a 10-6 win.

Last Sunday was a particularly bad day for the officials as they blew three crucial calls. San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst was incorrectly ruled down by contact, nullifying a 33-yard fumble return by the Kansas City Chiefs. Rams receiver Eddie Kennison got only one foot inbounds to set up a key field goal in a 23-20 victory over the Redskins. Giants cornerback Tito Wooten scooped up an incomplete pass off the ground and returned it 53 yards for an ''interception'' that gave New York a field goal in a 20-8 loss to the Bucs.

''They have a tough job,'' Bucs quarterback Trent Dilfer said. ''I'm not going to get on the officials. I think what's happened is this game is so fast. It's fast for me. It's fast for everybody. It's really fast for them.''

Maybe Sunday's poor effort is what prompted the league office to overnight a letter to teams as a friendly reminder to be careful of public criticism of the officials.

The NFL does not seem in a hurry to bring back instant replay, which it used from 1986-91. Instead, the league just keeps changing officials, who are part-time NFL employees. In the past six years, 56 of the 112 officials have changed. At least the league got that much right: Something does need to change.

BRIEFLY: Denver Broncos receiver Ed McCaffrey is the star of two McDonald's commercials in Denver. In one, McCaffrey is stuffed into a locker by offensive linemen who are angry he didn't bring them anything to eat. McCaffrey's 3-year-old son saw the commercial and thought his dad was trapped. ''My wife (Lisa) had to make sure I gave him a call to let him know they let me out,'' McCaffrey said. . . .

During the past two seasons, the Dallas Cowboys are 9-9 without defensive lineman Leon Lett. . . . The 49ers still have not beaten a team that has a winning record.